India to launch alliance of ‘sunshine nations’ in Paris

Seeking to present a group of sunshine countries as a block to get a better deal in the rising renewable energy market, India will launch an “alliance of solar-rich countries” in Paris on November 30 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the French capital along with other top world leaders to attend inaugurals of the crucial climate summit.Vishwa Mohan | TNN | October 30, 2015, 08:54 IST

Representative ImageNEW DELHI: Seeking to present a group of sunshine countries as a block to get a better deal in the rising renewable energy market, India will launch an “alliance of solar-rich countries” in Paris on November 30 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the French capital along with other top world leaders to attend inaugurals of the crucial climate summit.

“Our goal is to make solar energy an integral part of our life and reach it to the most unconnected villages and communities," Modi said while announcing the move to launch the alliance. He was speaking at the third India-Africa Forum Summit here. He also invited the African countries to join the alliance.

It is expected that as many as 107 sunshine countries from across the globe will join the alliance – the concept of which was conceived by India to present these nations as an effective group to get finance and technological support from investors for solar energy market.

Most of the countries which are expected to join the alliance get nearly 300 days of good sunshine in a year and therefore they are most suited to move on the solar energy path if they get cutting-edge technology and adequate finance for investment.

Modi said, "We are each making enormous efforts with our modest resources to combat climate change. For India, 175 giga watts of additional renewable energy capacity by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030 are just two aspects of our efforts. We will also deepen India-Africa partnership on clean energy, sustainable habitats, public transport and climate resilient agriculture.

"But, it is also true that the excess of few cannot become the burden of many. So, when the world meets in Paris in December, we look to see a comprehensive and concrete outcome that is based on the well established principles in the UN Convention on Climate Change."

Launching of such an alliance in Paris may send a strong signal to the global communities about the sincerity of the developing nations towards their joint efforts to move on low-carbon growth path. Many world leaders, including US President Barack Obama and German chancellor Angela Merkel, would be in Paris to attend the inaugurals of the climate conference – known as 21st Conference of Parties (COP21).

Reminding the rich nations of their responsibilities, the Prime Minister said, "We will all do our part for it. But, we also want to see a genuine global public partnership that makes clean energy affordable; provides finance and technology to developing countries; and the means to adapt to the impact of climate change.”

The Paris summit is scheduled to conclude on December 11 when the countries are expected to sign a legally binding global climate agreement to collectively deal with carbon emission and take adaptation measures to fight the impact of global warming.

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